Debian Etch AMD64 MySQL(current) root password setup

first view /etc/mysql/debian.cnf

use the user name to login to mysql

$ mysql -u debian-sys-maint -p

Enter the password in the file. To set the root password type:

mysql> USE mysql;

then

mysql> SET PASSWORD FOR root@localhost = PASSWORD('specialSAUCE');

where specialSAUCE is your bullet proof password.

Now continue to use and learn MYSQL.